Lost Love Found (55 page)

Shakir was brimming over with excitement and his own importance as he quickly climbed the last few steps up the side of the island and entered the garden. Hammid had been pleased with him! His star was in the ascendancy! Oh, it was true that Hammid would probably last for years, but he, Shakir, was a young man. He could afford to bide his time as long as he might bask in the constant approval of the grand eunuch. He hurried along the white gravel path to the kiosk, speaking even as he entered it.

“I have come from our master’s palace. Grand Eunuch Hammid has given his permission for you to walk in the gardens this afternoon. Your outdoor clothing will be fetched immediately.”

The outdoor clothing, Valentina was amused to note, consisted of sheer silk gauze pantaloons and an equally sheer silk blouse. There were slippers, for her feet must not develop calluses. She strove carefully to hide her excitement at finally being allowed the freedom of the gardens. Now she could get the lay of the island! She could consider how to escape. There had to be a boat of some kind on the island, for how else could Shakir come and go?

She was annoyed to have the eunuchs, Halim and Hamza, accompanying them, but again she hid her feelings. She was very surprised to see no vessel at the quay, and she asked casually, “How does Shakir get to the master’s palace?”

“He signals the palace and a caique is sent for him,” answered Halim.

Her heart sank. There was no boat on the island, then. How could she possibly get off the island without one? She could swim reasonably well, but the distance to either of the opposite shores was much too great. From her position at the top of the island, she could see that the straits were crisscrossed with nasty rippling currents. How would she ever get back to Istanbul, which she could just barely see in the distance?

For a moment she was very afraid. Not escape? Never see Padraic again? Never go home to England? It was too terrible to contemplate, and in an effort to calm herself, she concentrated on her surroundings.

The gardens were beautiful. The marble kiosk sat directly dead center in the middle of the gardens. The kiosk was surrounded on all four sides by an artificial pool. Fine white gravel paths fanned out from the pools in several directions. There was a small orchard of trees that she easily recognized as pear and peach, their small green fruits already visible. Some of the white paths were lined with stately cypress or fragrant pine trees. There were several small fountains in the gardens containing goldfish and water lilies. The fountains bubbled water from pretty stone statues.

The flowers were wonderful. Never had she seen such a profusion of roses. There were great bushes of damask roses in full and perfect bloom, and their heavy, heady fragrance filled the air. There were spicily scented Gold of Ophir roses as well, and bright beds of Sultan’s Balsam. There were beds of red, pink, gold, and white lilies just coming into bloom, an arbor of purple bougainvillea, and an arbor of night-blooming white moonflowers. There were beds of night-blooming nicotiana to complement the moonflowers.

“The master designed the gardens himself,” Gülfem informed her proudly as they were herded back toward the kiosk with its reflecting pools. “He is a most talented gardener. It is customary for high-born gentlemen to have a trade, for what Allah gives, He may just as easily take away. Nothing, it is written, is forever.”

They crossed the lattice-work bridge over the pool, stepped onto the pillared porch, and entered the kiosk.

They were shooed into the baths and Valentina was forced to endure yet again the ministrations of Gülfem, Säh, and Hazade, whose hands had, of late, taken to lingering too long upon her breasts and thighs. This afternoon, they were extremely intent upon their task, as if they had never before done it.

An early supper was served, and Shakir insisted that Valentina finish everything on her plate, drink every drop from her cup. The fresh air had taken its toll, and she fell into an easy sleep.

“Naksh! Naksh!” She heard the name being whispered urgently and opened her eyes. “Naksh! Wake up! The master is arriving this very minute! Shakir has gone to greet him!”

The master! She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. That arrogant monster who had kidnapped her and imprisoned her in this boring silken prison. At last she would meet him!

Valentina leaped from the great bed as her companions flung themselves to the floor in a gesture of supreme obeisance.

The man in the doorway stood in the shadows for a long moment. Then he moved into the room with the lithe grace of a large, sleek cat. The lesser eunuchs hurried to take his long, white wool cloak and white turban. They knelt, drawing his boots off so that he would cast no stain on the enormous Medallion rug. They removed his cloth-of-silver vest and cream silk shirt. His white pantaloons rode low over slim hips, contrasting starkly against the rugged tan of his skin. He was fair, however, for just above the edge of his pantaloons was a thin line of pale ivory.

“
You!
” Valentina hissed venomously.

The light gray-blue eyes mocked her, and a very white smile flashed beneath the clipped and tailored dark mustache. He assessed her boldly, his eyes moving from her face to her beautiful breasts, where they lingered, and then down the length of her. “Superb,” said Cicalazade Pasha softly.

Valentina flushed, for she had suddenly remembered that she was naked, a state to which she was now accustomed. Her long, unbound dark hair whirled about her as Valentina reached for the nearest thing, a small vase, and flung it at the vizier with all her might.

Laughing, he ducked the missile, then said to Shakir, “Restrain her.” Then he addressed the others. “You may rise, my little flowers, and greet me.”

With welcoming cries of delight, Gülfem, Hazade, and Säh sprang up and embraced their lord and master, covering his face with kisses, entwining their slender arms about him, pulling the pantaloons from him, drawing him to the great bed. Valentina stared at them in surprise. Then the eunuchs were holding her and Shakir was placing velvet-covered manacles on her wrists. There were short gold chains attached to each manacle. She was led to the wall to the left of the door to the bath. On one side of that door was a silk hanging showing a pair of lovers seated in a garden. On the other side of the door was a width of marble wall four feet across. Imbedded in that wall were two iron loops that had been gilded with gold paint. As Shakir affixed her chains to them, Valentina wondered why she had never noticed those loops before.

Shakir stood to her right, and his voice was low and menacing. “I know a thousand different ways to inflict the most excruciating pain, Naksh, and never leave a mark, except in the mind where the memory of pain lingers. It is our master’s wish that you observe him at play, so that you may learn how to please him. Should you turn your eyes from the bed without permission, I have been instructed to punish you, which would give me great pleasure. Do you understand?”

She turned her head so that she might look at him, and he brutally pinched her nipple.

“You will keep your eyes on the master at all times, Naksh, even when answering me,” Shakir said.

“You toad!” she whispered angrily. “When I am free, I shall scratch your eyes out!” But she kept her eyes on the bed.

Cicalazade Pasha was sprawled on his back on the huge bed, surrounded by his three pretty concubines. Valentina had to admit that he was an extremely attractive man. His shoulders and chest were broad, his belly flat, his legs long. She had heard that some Islamic men denuded themselves of their body hair, but this was not so with the vizier. His chest was covered with dark hair, as was the groin where his manhood lay quiet.

Even as Valentina’s eyes reached that part of his anatomy, Säh crawled between her master’s legs. Taking his manhood in her mouth, she began to minister to it eagerly. There was no doubt that she was enjoying herself. Gülfem and Hazade, on either side of their master, took turns kissing him on his sensual mouth while he played with their round, little breasts, cupping and fondling them, teasing the nipples. Then his fingers strayed between their thighs, caressing their sensitive soft skin. When the vizier’s manhood had attained its full growth, Säh raised her head and looked at her master questioningly. With a warm smile, he nodded at her. The girl scrambled to impale herself on the great blue-veined ivory shaft, moaning with undisguised pleasure as her body devoured its length. Cicalazade Pasha murmured something low that Valentina could not hear, and immediately Gülfem and Hazade rose from their places and, pressing themselves close to him on either side, they squatted so that he could entertain their sheaths with the thickness of several fingers from each hand. Soon the air was filled with the sensual cries of the trio’s pleasure.

Suddenly the vizier’s eyes met Valentina’s boldly, and he smiled a slow, knowing smile at her, causing hot color to suffuse her beautiful features. She was shocked by what she was seeing, unable to believe that one man could use three different women at once. He read her thoughts.

“The Mughal emperor in India is said to be able to entertain six women at one time and fully satisfy them, my beautiful one. A maiden rides him as Sah now rides me. Two are satisfied in the manner that Gülfem and Hazade are now being pleasured. Two more are entertained with the big toe on each of the emperor’s feet. The last by his skillful mouth.”

“You are vile!” she managed to gasp. “How can you do this to me? My betrothed husband will find me, and when he does, he will kill you, my lord vizier! If he does not, the sultan will give me justice! I myself would wield the sword that lops off your arrogant head!”

The vizier laughed loudly, with genuine amusement. Unlike the three little sweetmeats now laboring to please him, she was vinegar and spice. And, he suspected, fire and ice as well. Like all women, she would eventually yield to passion, and when she did, it would be he who triumphed in her total submission.

The three young women had worked themselves into a frenzy, and with moans of satisfaction, they fell away from Cicalazade Pasha. The vizier smiled toothily, replete with his own pleasure.

“Your betrothed husband has turned Istanbul upside-down, my beautiful one, and even now vents his frustration in the outer courts of the Yeni Sarai,” the vizier told her mockingly. “The valide has complained bitterly to the Sultan about the
incident
, but alas, the beauteous Lady Barrows has disappeared without a trace, and no one has been found who even witnessed her apparent abduction. It makes it all very difficult. There are rumors that you were swept away by a jinn, who, spying your beauty, coveted you.” He chuckled.

Valentina was quite shaken, but she said bravely, “They will find me!
They will
! And then I hope the sultan lets me separate your head from your body!”

Cicalazade Pasha laughed again with great amusement. His three concubines were hurrying to bathe his large genitals and his hands in perfumed water. They cast shocked and disapproving looks at Valentina. When they finished bathing him, the vizier rose from the huge bed and strode across the floor to stand directly before his captive. He fondled the orbs of her breasts in a leisurely fashion as his eyes met hers in a fierce battle of wills.

“You are even lovelier than I anticipated,” he said quietly as if they were alone. “You set my heart afire with a deep longing the like of which I have not experienced in years. The blood boils within my veins and I hunger to possess you, Naksh.” His lips brushed lightly against her cheek.

“
Never!
” she spat, unable to escape his possessive hands, though she struggled against her chains.

He smiled, and she could have sworn that his smile was sympathetic. “Do not say foolish things, for you are not a foolish woman,” he gently chided her. “I saw you and I desired you. I am a man used to getting what he desires. I know that you understand such things, for you are not vapid or witless like the three sweet maidens who serve me.” His thumbs rubbed insistently against her nipples. “I can be patient, Naksh. I want you to desire me before I take you. Our mutual pleasure will be the greater for it.” He kissed her mouth.

“Desire you? I will never desire you!” she hissed, yanking her head away from him. “You are mad to even consider such a thing!” She did not know how much longer she could bear his hands on her, for she was confused by conflicting feelings. She detested him, yet his hands were exciting her.

“You already desire me. You are simply not experienced enough to know it,” he mocked her, a hand releasing her breast to reach down between her thighs and cup her Venus mont. A finger easily found its way between her nether lips, and she squirmed desperately to escape his invasion. “Already your love juices flow,” he murmured, leaning forward to whisper the words against her mouth. “You are honeyed with a longing you do not even recognize. Were your mind in tune with your exquisite body, you would be ready to receive me at this very moment.”

He stepped away from her and slipped the finger that had been taunting her into his mouth, sucking on it meaningfully, his eyes holding hers prisoner. “You are sweet like the sea,” he told her. And then abruptly he turned his back on her and returned to the three girls who awaited him on the great bed.

A deep shudder tore through Valentina. She was suddenly and inexplicably terrified. The truth of his words burst through her like fire scorching a dry field. She rejected him with every fiber of her very strong willpower, but her body, it appeared, had a mind of its own. That body was beginning to respond to this terrible man, to his lustful desires. How could that
be?
She could understand her body responding to a man she desired, but how could her body react so openly to someone she hated?

Cicalazade Pasha pulled the lovely Gülfem beneath him. Facing Valentina, he rode the girl. With slow, deep thrusts of his powerful manhood, he pumped the concubine. The other two girls sitting on their heels on each side of the bed, watched their master and his chosen avidly. The vizier’s silvery eyes never left Valentina’s as he worked the woman in his possession, and to Valentina’s horror she read his thoughts. It was she he wished beneath him, and he was pretending it was so!